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Sunday, June 9, 2019
8:00:00 AM
Chipmunk Creek/Wally's Staging Area
Dwight Harris Chris Carey Ray Keller
604)466-8812 (604)534-0609 (604)612-1036 dwightpat@shaw.ca; rkeller@wcwtholdings.com
In 1948, Trev Deeley seized his Harley 45 racing the National at Daytona Beach. The damaged piston and rod were mounted on a shield to form the perpetual Piston Run trophy. There is, on the clubhouse wall, a small Piston Run trophy, engraved 1942. This suggests the event has an even longer history, but in any case, the perpetual trophy dates consecutively from 1949.
The event was originally an enduro, where riders had to average given speeds to arrive at checkpoints by a certain time. There were no dirt bikes before the 1960’s, and riders often took the saddlebags and lights off their daily transportation (few riders were rich enough to afford a car), rode the event, then washed the bike and bolted the lights and bags back on for the ride home. The course was traditionally challenging, with riders on 400 to 600 pound bikes charging into mudholes, logs and streambeds. Many riders of heavier bikes took a passenger along to help push.
By the early 1980’s, timekeeping had fallen out of favour, so the format was changed to a hare scrambles race. It was one of the original five events when the PNWMA started the Off-Road Series in 1984. In 1985, the first of the souvenir beer mugs was given out to finishers. This started a new tradition of collecting beer mugs, which continues today.
Current Information On The Piston Run
71st Annual Piston Run Hare Scrambles presented by the GVMC
Mark this date Sunday June 9th, 2019 on your calendar for a great off road adventure.
BCORCS Off Road Championship Event
Fun New Trails and Old Favourites Spectator Friendly
Camping: 25 Unit Campsite near start area (aprox $15.00 fee) - Rapids Campground
A limited number of sites are available for reservation, excluding the Staging Area: however most sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will not be taken more than 60 days in advance. This is a CASH ONLY site and has on-site supervision during camping season. All visitors are required to to exit the site by 10:30pm as the gates are locked at 11:00pm and will remain closed until 7:00am
For more information and to make a reservation visit: www.chilliwackvalleycampsites.ca
Food Concession On Site.
Start Area: Chipmunk Creek/Wally's Staging Area.
Directions: Take the Vedder Road exit (#119) off Hwy 1 at Chilliwack. Drive south thru Sardis and turn left at the steel bridge towards Chilliwack Lake. After 25km, you will pass the Ford Mountain Correction Center. Turn left immediately after crossing the bridge towards Chipmunk Creek/Wally's Staging Area. Follow the arrows to the staging area, parking, camping and signup about 6km from blacktop.
Signup Opens: 8:00am
Rider's Meeting: 10:30am
Race Starts: 11:00am
Entry Fee: Pre Enty on line PNWMA Website until 6:00pm Thursday prior to the race With BCORMA Trail Pass $50.00 Without BCORMA Trail Pass $60.00
PNWMA Licence Required - Individual Year $40.00 - Weekend $20.00 - Includes 1 transponder - Family - Year - $60.00 - Weekend $20.00 - Includes 2 transponders - Extra transponders $5.00
Sound test 96db limit and spark arrestors required - "Less Sound More Ground"
**To view pictures of this event please check it out in the Photo Gallery.
Event Comments: 2019 Piston Run
The 2019 Piston Run got off to a great start. The weather had been wet the previous two days but race day was sunny and the damp trails were in perfect riding condition – lots of traction and no dust. There was a lot of good dicing for position, especially on the first lap.
There were 173 riders entered in the race and the overall winner was Blake Watkinson with a time of 2:29.55. That time was for two complete laps of the course. When you stop to consider that a typical time for novice riders was over three hours for one lap you get a sense of how fast Blake is – he was flat out the whole way, incredible riding. Way to go Blake. Blake is from Lillooet and also won the Piston Run last year. It will be interesting to see if he can be upset from his throne next year.
Special thanks go out to Donna and Rob for breakfast and hot dogs, to Julie and Jackie for sign up duties, to the Chilliwack Amateur Radio club for providing communications throughout the event, to Chris and his crew for the many hours of hard work they did preparing the course and arranging support workers, and to Dwight for countless hours spent getting Gov’t permission for the event, for obtaining the event trophies, and for taking care of all the administrative aspects of this event. A lot of hard work performed by dedicated people made this year’s event one of the most successful yet. Thanks to Bill T and Bill W, Garth H, Ray K, Jim S, Dave S, Wes J, Debbie J, Phil B, Dave M, Renee C, Barry C, Rocky W, Guy R. and John T. Great work gang! Kudos to you all.
